Improvement in roofings



OSBORNE J. PIERGE.

improvement in Roofing.

No. 121,063. Patented Nov-21,1871.

2; F? f A I A" ninmmu j mm.mimmim 1\TITED S'rArns OSBORNE J. PIERCE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN ROOFINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,063, dated November 21, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSBORNE J. PmRoE, of the city and county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of Laying Slate and other Roofing Material; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a roof-covering laid in accordance with my improved method. Fig. 2 represents a detail view of the covering upon a somewhat larger scale. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the same. Fig. 4 represents a somewhat different pattern, which can be formed by the use of my invention; and Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of slates as laid by the ordinary method, showing, by comparison with Fig. 3, the difference in section between the old method and my improved method of laying.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the slates or'tiles, as hereinafter described; also, in combination with the larger slates or tiles,lconstructed in the form and arranged as described, of the small or auxiliary slates or tiles, as and for the purpose hereinafter explained.

In the drawing, the parts markedA represent the larger slate, which may be cut nine inches long and eight inches wide, or of dimensions in that proportion. The two lower corners of the slate are in this instance clipped off on an angle of sixty degrees so as to form a half hexagon, the lower side of which will be parallel with the horizon when the slate is in an upright position, as shown. These larger slates A are laid upon the roof at some distance apart, which distance corresponds with the length of one side of the hexagon formed by their lower ends. This, with slates of the dimensions above mentioned, would be four inches. The distance between the courses when the slate is laid is such that the lower edge of the second course will just reach to the angle of the clipped corner of the first course, and so on throughout the various courses. This produces a hexagonal pattern, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the three lower sides of the hexagon being formed by the edges of the lower end of the slate itself, the two upper inclined sides of the hexagon by the clipped corners of I two slates in the second course, and the top side of the hexagon by the lower edge of the slate in the third course, thus making the entire outline of the pattern by a projecting edge of slate and the top line by a double edge, so that the form of the slate is shown much more clear and distinct than with the ordinary mode of laying, wherein a portion of the form is marked by the joint only. In the spaces between the larger slates A I introduce small auxiliary slates or pieces B out of the dimensions four inches wide by five and one-half inches long, or bearing that proportion to the large slates A. These small slates B are for the purpose of filling the openings between and preventing snow or other matter from driftingin beneath the larger slates A. The pieces B are entirely covered and hidden by the larger slates A, unless purposely extended to produce a variation of pattern, in the manner indicated at 0, d, and f. By constructing the lower ends of the large slates A as shown, and laying them at a distance apart, as stated, I am enabled to obtain the requisite two inches of lap at all joints with much shorter slates than can be used with the ordinary method of laying. This fact will be quite evident from an examination of the drawing, where it will be noticed, in Fig. 2, that the joints to of the slates A in the preceding course are covered by the extreme ends of the slates in the course above, with a constantly-increasing'lap to the side, past the joint a, while the central portion of the slates A of the said preceding course are left open to the weather up to the second course above. Consequently, with slates nine inches long, as herein described, I obtain two inches lap and have seven inches of .length exposed to the weather, whereas by the ordinary mode of laying the slates which show seven inches to the weather they require to be sixteen inches long in order to obtain two inches lap at all joints.

The saving thus produced by my improved method of laying is about thirty-two per cent. in the amount of slate required over the most economical patterns laid in the ordinary manner, hesides other advantages hereinafter referred to.

The auxiliary pieces B may bemade of wood, rubber, cement, or other material, even when laid with slates, they being covered by the larger slates. When made of rubber, cement, or ma terial which will adhere to the slates they can be formed short, as shown at b, Fig. 2; but when formed of material which requires to be nailed it will be necessary to extend them above the top end of the other slates just sufficient to allow the nails to pass above said ends.

When slating the walls of buildings, spires, or roofs nearly vertical. the auxiliary pieces B may be dispensed with and the spaces between the larger slates A left open, building-paper being used between the slating and roof-boarding.

My improved method of laying roofing is adapted to roof-coverings of slate, tiles, shingles, metal or any other material when laid in courses, but it is more especially designed for slate; and among the advantages obtained by my improvement may be mentioned the following The form of the lower end of the pieces A is such that the water is discharged therefrom onto or near the center of the piece below instead of into the joint between the pieces. This is a matter of importance in roof-coverings of wood or metal, as it greatly increases their durability. The pieces are of such length and form as to render practical and easy the slating of much shorter convex and concave curves in the roof than can be slated by the ordinary methods; and, as a smaller quantity of slate is used, less timber is required to support the roof. Another great advantage is in the cost of the material. Smallsized slates can be procured much cheaper than large-sized, while they are less liable to become broken by transportation; and it will be observed that my largest-sized-pieces A are quite small in comparison to the size ordinarily required to show the same amount of weather-surface, while all of my small pieces B, about one-quarter part of the whole, can be split from stones which are now considered as too small and unfit for use. Consequently they can be procured at a very slight cost, while a market is at the same time opened for what has heretofore been considered a waste product of the quarries, as well as a use for slates which are broken in transporting. Thus it will be seen that by the use of my invention a superior slate roof can be laid for a price which would be required for an ordinary shingle roof, and the reduction in the cost of shingle and metal roofs is nearly in the same proportion.

In an artistic point of view the beauty of the roof is much enhanced, as the overhanging edges of the slates bring out the figure with more boldness and expansion, while a great variety of new and beautiful patterns can be produced by the use of different-colored slates. I do not confine myself to the exact form of slates herein shown, as substantially the same results can be produced with slates having circular ends, as illustrated at A, Fig. 2; and a variation of pattern may also be produced by clipping the corners upon other angles than sixty degrees, or by leaving the corners full. I much prefer, however, the hexagonal pattern herein shown, as being the best adapted for the purpose and the most economical. A variation of pattern may also be produced by extending the ends of the auxiliary pieces B and making them of various forms, as illustrated at c, Fig. 1, d and f, Fig. 2. Fig. 4: represents one beautiful pattern which can be produced, by the use of the auxiliary pieces B, with larger slates.

Having described my improved method of laying slates and other roofing material, what I claim therein as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The method of laying slate and other roofing material herein described by the employment of pieces A so formed and laid in courses as to cover the joints and leave the central portion of each slate or piece exposed, the slates or pieces in each course being arranged with spaces between them laterally, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The, combination with the larger pieces A, formed as shown and described, of the auxiliary pieces B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

OSBORNE J. PIERCE.

A. E. PIERCE. (126) 

